2010 Year In Review

Thank you to the people of Brownsville for the warm welcome. It has quickly made Brownsville our home!

- The Brownsville States-Graphic • 2010 Year In Review • Thursday, January 27, 2011

Thursday, January 27, 2011 • 2010 Year In Review • The Brownsville States-Graphic -

By Rebecca Gray, Staff Writer

Over the past 50 years, Rex Bond has earned a reputation of being compassionate and respectful from those who know him best in the community and from the families who have worked with him at the Brownsville Funeral Home.

An appreciation reception was held in his honor on Sunday, January 10, at the funeral home, and he is very grateful for the recognition.

“I think it was great, I was amazed at the number of people who came, and the cards I got, and the calls,” says Bond. “It’s been nice. The food was great and the fellowship was good.”

Bond offi cially retired as a funeral director and embalmer on December 31, 2009. He says his job in the funeral home business has been very enjoyable.

“I enjoy dealing with and helping people,” says Bond. “Most of the time it’s a very trying time for the families, and I enjoy trying to help them in the ways that I can. It’s very pleasing to do that. It’s just a very interesting line of work, and it’s been good. I thoroughly enjoy it. I’ve been extremely blessed over the years to be able to work with everybody there at the funeral home.”

Bond’s wife, Harriet, says that Bond’s co-workers are like a second family.

“Because you spend so much time developing relationships with the employees, it’s like a smaller separate family up there that has a very tight bond,” she says.

Judy Blair, offi ce

manager for Bells Funeral Home, says that working with Bond has been very rewarding.

“He’s just such a sweet, sweet person,” says Blair. “He has been a huge help to me and he is a good motivator. If I needed help on anything, I could just ask him. He’s good back-up support, and a very loving, caring and compassionate person, not just toward me as an employee but toward the families he has dealt with.”

Paul Lott, a family service counselor for Brownsville Funeral Home, has enjoyed sharing an offi ce with Bond for the past three years.

“He is one of a kind,” says Lott. “He’s so knowledgeable. When people think of the funeral home, they think of Rex Bond. He’s an icon. He’s just been a joy to work with. He’s upbeat and happy. He makes everybody feel respected. Chivalry is not dead with Rex Bond. I can’t say enough good things about him.”

Bond says that he set out to earn a business degree from Union University in Jackson but then began working for the funeral home in 1958 and helping with the services there. He developed a love for that work, so he stopped attending the university and decided to attend John A. Gupton School of Mortuary Science in Nashville, now John A. Gupton College. He graduated in 1959 and became a licensed funeral director and embalmer and continued his work at the funeral home.

In 1979, he became owner and manager of the Brownsville Funeral Home and served in that

capacity until 1993. He has worked as a funeral director and embalmer since that time.

Bond is a native of Brownsville and has two daughters; Tina Bond and Lura Alyea, both of Memphis. He is a member of the Ed Worsham Masonic Lodge and has also been involved in a number of local civic organizations over the years.

Bond says he is humbled by the responses he has received from the public throughout his career.

“I’m proud of the responses that people give and when they let us know that they appreciate what we did for them,” he says.

“He based everything on service,” says Harriet. “It didn’t matter if they had $20 or $20,000. He treated everybody the same and you got the same service, and it was all about service, from parking the cars to hand-delivering notices around town. You can go to any funeral home in West Tennessee and they know this man because of the reputation that’s he’s had with Brownsville Funeral Home. He has a genuine compassion for service. It wasn’t about the money or the career; it was about being able to serve people.”

Bond says that the quality of service provided by a funeral home is what makes it stand out.

“I just believe in service. I believe if you treat people right, and provide them with honest service, you’ll be successful,” says Bond. “It’s basically about treating people as you would want to be treated, maybe even a little better.”

Rex Bond retires as funeral director for Brownsville-Bells Funeral Home

Rex Bond at his Appreciation Reception at the Brownsville Funeral Home.

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After much time searching, Brownsville Mayor Webb Banks fi nally recently announced a new director to be appointed to the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center.

The new appointee is Sonia Outlaw-Clark. Clark is a native Haywood Countian who has years of service in community projects.

“Sonia was selected due to her journalism experience, management skills, and her proven ability to work with people in organizing successful projects,” the Mayor said.

Clark was employed for approximately eight years with the Brownsville States Graphic and has served six years as offi ce administrator for First Presbyterian Church in Brownsville.

She is a graduate of Leadership Haywood County and the recipient of many community service awards. She has also been a member of the Hatchie Fall Festival since it inception about six years ago and served two years as chairperson. She is currently serving as president of the Brownsville Business Association.

“The Heritage Center offers a very

unique opportunity for promoting our region,” Clark said. “And I’m looking forward to helping the counties showcase themselves to the millions of visitors who travel Interstate 40 each year.”

Clark assumed her duties as the new director at the Delta Heritage Center at the beginning of this month.

Clark was also a part of the Heritage Advisory Board set up by the city board of mayor and aldermen. The board had also consisted of Sandra Silverstien, Carolyn Freeman and Jerry Wilson.

The Delta Center has attracted it’s a multitude of people not only nationally, but globally as well.

The West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center is located at 121 Sunny Hill Cove, just off I-40 at Exit 56, in Brownsville, Tenn. The center features the music museum, a cotton museum, the Hatchie River museum and two rotating exhibits including the photography of Joe Guinn and information boards highlighting counties throughout West Tennessee. Current museum hours are 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, call the center at 731-779-9000. Group tours are welcome.

New Director named for West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center

Sonia Outlaw Clark

A methamphetamine drug bust occurred on in Haywood County Friday, January 22 that lead to arrest of several offenders.

The West Tennessee Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force arrested Stephen Brooks Baucom, in Stanton on Friday along with four other people.

The four other people in Haywood County were Vernon Martin, Traci Patterson, Amanda Emison and Leanne Thornsbury.

Martin’s bond was set at $35,000; Patterson’s was set at $40,000, Emison’s at $35,000 and Thornsbury at $35,000.

The Stanton arrest also lead authorities to methamphetamine facilities in Jackson and the arrests of Charles Keith Ferrell, 35, of Meadwood Drive in Jackson, and Emilee Hope Phillips, 33.

Authorities handle drug bustBrownsville Police also arrest suspect

on drug charges

Continued on Page 5

Town of Stanton

Stanton Mayor, Dr. Allan SterbinskyRuffie Jones

Stanton Aldermen

Emma DelkVice-Mayor

Frank Fawcett

A.D. Miller

2010 Accomplishments

•Received $1.2 Million in grants for Stanton.

•Applied for an additional $1.5 Million in grants for Stanton.

•Internet Hot Spot maintained for all Stanton residents and visitors.

•Continued offering Haywood County GED classes in Stanton.

•Began discussions with Christian Brothers University to offer classes in Stanton.

•Progress made on Zoning Ordinance and expansion of Urban Growth Boundary.

•Continued demolition of unsafe buildings.

•Obtained the entire bound Periodical Collection from Jackson-Madison County Library

2011 Goals•Work in conjunction with Haywood County and Brownsville to enhance all of Haywood County.

•Expand Community College and University class offerings in Stanton.

•Implement the Stanton Zoning Ordinance and the Board of Zoning Appeals.

•Implement the proposed Stanton Urban Growth Boundary.

•Renovate the Stanton Cannery and install new equipment.

•Continue the demolition of unsafe buildings in Stanton.

•Expand Stanton’s social website presence.

•Expand the historical archives for Stanton.


Baucom faces several methamphetamine and weapons charges and is being held on $150,000 bond in Haywood County, according to the Haywood County Sheriff’s Department.

Phillips and Ferrell were arraigned in Jackson City Court on Monday and will appear there again on Feb. 4. Their bond was set at $15,000 each. Among the charges they face are initiation of methamphetamine production and possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Baucom’s arrest had lead authorities to a storage facility at 64 Northstar Drive that had methamphetamine lab, and another lab at 3430 N Highland Drive in Jackson.

When authorities went to arrest Ferrell, they also found another lab in the back of his pick-up truck.

In another unrelated drug bust incident last Tuesday, Brownsville Police Department Narcotics unit stopped a Joe Tyus at the 300 block of Poplar and recovered crack cocaine and Marijuana. Tyus’ 1996 Chev Tahoe was also seized. Tyus ,who has seven prior felony drug convictions, has been charged with illegal possession of schedule VI and II with intent, suspended driver license and resisting arrest.

Continued from Page 4

The Brownsville Police Department responded to a murder at approximately 8 a.m. Monday morning.

Authorities went to 1001 North McLemore to do a “welfare check on the occupant of the residence,” Police Chief Chris Lea said.

The occupant of the residence was a 55-year-old Maria Garcia, a former resident of Bells, who had moved to Brownsville two years ago.

“It’s my understanding that she has kinfolk that lives outside of the state, and they were worried about her. She had texted them last Thursday,” City Mayor Webb Banks said. “They had been trying to call her back through the weekend but she didn’t answer.”Offi cers were contacted and forcibly entered the residence Monday morning.

Upon entering, they discovered, Garcia, dead in the living room.

Authorities said that she appeared to have been beaten with a blunt object

and the murder may have taken place early Friday morning.

“A person of interest, Phillip Bobo, who was renting a room from the victim, was located and questioned by the Criminal Investigations Division of the Brownsville Police Department,” Lea said.

A hammer was also found in the living room, but authorities are examining if it was the weapon that was used against Garcia.

It’s believed that Bobo had been renting the room from Garcia for approximately ten months.

Neighbors had said that Bobo and Garcia knew each other from working at Pictsweet at Bells.

After questioning, Bobo was charged with fi rst-degree murder and aggravated rape.

Bobo was transported to the Haywood County Jail.

He has a court appearance scheduled for February 9 in Haywood County General Sessions Court. Suspect Phillip Bobo

Woman found murdered in home; Suspect to appear in court February 9

By Calvin CarterStaff Writer

For 11 years, Robert Mitchell, 63, has served as principal for Haywood High School. Even longer than that, has been Mitchell’s time in education altogether, coming to 40 years. Suffi ce it to say, Mitchell has seen his fair share of big changes.

From social shifts, to technological advances, Mitchell has witnessed and adapted to countless changes to hit the area.

But now, Mitchell will force Haywood High School to adapt to a major change caused by one of his actions: his retirement.

Mitchell will not be coming back next fall as Haywood High School Principal.

For the veteran administrator, the idea to retire didn’t hit until his wife’s, former Sunny Hill teacher Alice Mitchell, retirement.

“When I fi rst became principal, I wasn’t sure how long I would stay with the job,” Mitchell said. “Lately I just decided it was time to make a change. I looked at my retirement and social

security and I saw that I was kink of working for nothing, and when I saw that, I decided it was time to make the move.”

Before becoming principal, Mitchell taught vocational agriculture classes seven years at Bolivar Central High School, then at Haywood High until he became Director of Vocational Technical Education in 1982. He is a Haywood High School graduate and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Tennessee-Martin and a Master’s Degree in Administration and Supervision from the University of Memphis.

For anyone that knows what the title of principal truly means, Mitchell’s retirement would probably be seen as defi nitely earned.

As Mitchell noted, “the principal’s job is 24/7.”

A look into Haywood high School’s offi ce reveals that the offi ce area is a hot spot kept busy, by parents, students and teachers. And Mitchell’s offi ce is no exception to that. With 950 students, and 80 plus in staff, how could it be?

HHS Principal Announces Retirement

Continued on Page 6


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It was last fall, that thoughts of retirement entered Mitchell’s head. And when his wife retired last Christmas season.

The reaction so far has been, perhaps, bittersweet.

“They’ve been very supportive,” Mitchell said faculty and community reaction to his retirement. “Everyone says ‘congratulation, I’m sorry to see you go.’ They’re glad that I’m able to make this move, but they’ve all said that they want to see me stay around awhile. I’ve had a lot of parents that still have children in school here, and they’ll say ‘Well, just one more year until my child graduates or two more years until my child graduates. And that makes me feel good that our parents and teachers are very very supportive of me and our school.”

Mitchell and his wife plan on using their retirement to spend time with their grandson, Alexander, travel and enjoy the company of family. Mitchell also has a farm east of town that he plans on tending to, he

said.Although he noted that he’ll have plenty

to keep him busy, he did mention some of the highlights from the school that he’ll miss. Notably, the camaraderie that came with his teachers and faculty.

“Our teachers are out there working hard everyday. If you don’t have good teacher, it doesn’t make a difference who the principal is, you’re not going to get the job done.”

He will also miss some student-driven highlights, such as the Beta Club inductions, Academic Awards Program and of course graduation, which has caused Mitchell to witness numerous students to go on for further success.

“There’s a lot of headaches in the principal’s job,” Mitchell said. “That’s the reward part though; it’s seeing our kids do well.”

Mitchell attributed that success with the staff and teachers of the school, as well as the community. And it’s those factors that he believes his follower will have to follow

to at least keep the same success rate at the school.

“My advice is to involve your faculty and the community in the decision that you make so that you know that you’re making the best decisions for the students,” Mitchell said.

And although, Mitchell has done the best he can, to cushion the change he’s bringing to Haywood High School with his future absence, he knows that change is still something the school will always have to face.

“Changes have to occur,” Mitchell said. “You always want to do it in such a way that it causes the lest disruption possible in your day to day activities.”

“We have over 1,000 people here on campus. And everybody doesn’t deal with change the same way. It’s a part of life; change is inevitable. We’re going to have it whether we want it or not. The world is changing and we’ve got to change with it or adapt or we’re going to die.”

Continued from Page 5

Robert Mitchell

By Julie PickardStaff Writer

For Crockett County native Kyle East, big responsibility is nothing new for the twenty-three-year old. Landing a position in the emergency fi eld right out of high school and being elected among the state’s youngest government offi cial as a county commissioner, East’s ‘career highs’ keep getting higher as he was recently named Haywood County’s Central Dispatch Director all before the age of 25. East replaces long-time director Ken Buie, who resigned from his post and has since taken a job in Florida.

East will be leading nine dispatchers at central dispatch and says his main focus coming in is building a program that is professional, profi cient as well as confi dent.

“We’ve got two goals as dispatchers, responder safety and public safety,” explained East. “We’ve got to take people that call us and need help and our offi cers that are on the call. When you’ve got professionalism, profi ciency and confi dence, that will give you responder and public safety.”

He added being successful at those two entities will require more formal training for the dispatchers.

“Each dispatcher this year will go through around 60 hours of training,” he said. “And I also want to implement a quality assurance program where we’ll be listening to their calls and critiquing them.”

East has been working as a paramedic

with the Brownsville ambulance service since 2007 and is accompanied with fi ve years experience of dispatching from Crockett County including being named the communications training offi cer, training all new hires for the past year. He states experience from both sides of the radio will be key in his administrating.

“Ninety percent of the dispatchers have never been in a responder role and 90 percent of responders have never been in a dispatcher role, and they don’t understand each other,” said East. “I’ve been on both ends and know what each person is expecting.”

The central dispatch will soon be moving when the new jail is constructed. East is currently working on the transfer with accepting bids for equipment. He noted the training for the dispatchers will be funded through a grant.

East is a member of the Frog Jump volunteer fi re dept. as well as the Maury City Church of Christ.

Emergency Board appoints Dispatch Director

Kyle East



Only two weeks into his job, and you can tell that Jeremy Gray is already beginning to settle into his new position as CEO for Haywood Park Community Hospital.

The Alabama native’s desk consists of a neat mess of paper fi les and plans that would suggest he’s been at the job for two months rather than two weeks.

He’s busy.But he doesn’t seem mind just so long as

he can match his dedication and plans with those of Haywood Park.

For now, he literally is in the planning stages.

“We’re really just in the process now of fi guring out what service lines we need,” Gray said.

Gray received his Bachelor’s in Science and Physical Therapy from the University of South Alabama in 1997. He then took a position at the University of Alabama-Birmingham’s hospital. He worked as a physical therapist for fi ve years.

His worked continued with facilities like HEALTHSOUTH Corporation Industry a year and half before his move to Shelbyville, TN. He then started work at, Heritage Medical Center, which he said was roughly the same size as Haywood Park.

He served as Assistant Administrator/Chief Operating Offi cer.

“I had the opportunity to work with a lot of great people at that Shelbyville hospital,” Gray said. “We put up a lot of great services. We had some of the top cardiologists, a great heart program, and a sleep lab. I had a great time down there and I enjoyed it. And you know I’ve got a great team here.”

Although Gray is an Alabama native, he noted that moving to Tennessee, or Brownsville hasn’t been too much of a

culture shock.“A lot of orange, we like Crimson where

I’m from,” Grey said laughing. “But it hasn’t been a huge culture shock. My wife is from Columbus, Mississippi. When we came into town, she said it felt like a smaller version of Columbus.”

Gray with his wife Holly, 8-year-old twins Thomas and Ian, and 6-year-old daughter, Caroline Grace are still in the process of fully moving from Shelbyville. He’s hoping his children will be with him around Memorial Day.

While excited to meet more in the community, Gray has met with both the County and City mayors, as well the county Sheriff, Melvin Bond.

“I’ve been really impressed with their dedication with the hospital, them wanting it to succeed and be a viable medical center for this community,” Gray said.

It’s Grey’s push that people of the community think of Haywood Park for their medical needs before other neighboring hospitals.

“I just want people in the community to know that they have a great option to come here and have the same service instead of driving 30 or 40 minutes to a neighboring town,” Gray said. “That’s my real push. We’re not going to do brain surgery or anything like that, but the other surgeries, like the gallbladders, the things that we can do, I want to capitalize on that.”

One of Gray’s top priorities is to offer Intermittent Dialysis to patients. Down the line, he added that he would also like for the hospital to look into cardiology, opening a sleep lab and increasing the number of surgeries performed.

Grey also noted that he’s hoping to really reach out to the community and see what they think Haywood Park needs.

In the meantime, you’ll probably fi nd Gray knee deep in fi les, patients, and

planning. Luckily, the energy the job requires only excited Gray.

“Work tends to recharge me, he said. “There are ten different things coming at you, it’s very high energy.”

The job is a different spin than what his medical-savvy family is probably use to dealing with. Gray’s father is a Professor

of Gross Anatomy, while his mother is an occupational therapist. His sister and her husband are physical therapist.

Gray chose a more managerial approach to the medical fi eld due to his business-oriented mind, he said.

Still, as he said, “around the dinner table there’s a lot of medical talk.”

Jeremy Gray is busy at work as Haywood Park’s new CEO.

Haywood Park gets new CEO

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A public memorial was recently held for the three victims of the Wings Helicopter Crash Wednesday, March 31, at Bellevue Baptist Church on Appling Road in Cordova.

A Brownsville-based Hospital Wing crew helicopter crashed into a fi eld off of Springfi eld Road just east of Brownsville City limits last Thursday morning. Victims were pilot, Doug Phillips from Bartlett, and two nurses, Misty Brogdon, 36, from Jackson and Cindy Parker, 48, from Dyersburg.

According to Haywood County Sheriff Melvin Bond weather more than likely was the reason for the crash.

No new information on the crash has been revealed yet.

Authorities from the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Board are currently investigating the exact cause of the crash.

“They stated that it could be weeks before they have a conclusion ready to release,” Bond said.

The investigators are based out of Washington D.C.

Witnesses that worked nearby the crash scene at a manufacturing plant reported seeing a fl ash of lightning followed by an orange glow around the time of the crash near 6 a.m. The medical helicopter was reportedly returning from a fl ight from Jackson where they had been transporting a patient. The fl ight crew was approximately minutes away from their landing destination when they crashed.

Wings has been based in Brownsville since 2004.

The loss of the victims has clearly hit many pretty hard.

“They were an exceptional, dedicated crew, made up of a fi ne pilot, and excellent nurses,” Jimmy Studdard, Director of the Haywood County Ambulance Authority said. “It truly is a devastating loss to the community.”

Funerals for Parker and Brogdon were held Sunday March 28, while Phillips’ was held Tuesday, March 30.

Public Memorial held for Wing Crash Victims

A helicopter crash occurred last Thursday morning off of Springfi eld road, killing three victims.

Family and friends of the victims console each other as recovery efforts continue. Photo By Julie Pickard



As ominous clouds darkened the sky over the weekend, no one could have predicted the damage they were to bring.

Many are already calling the major storm that hit this state, Kentucky and Mississippi one of the deadliest non-hurricane fl ood disasters to hit the nation since a 1998 Central Texas fl ood that killed 31 people.

So far, it’s believed that this weekend’s fl ood disaster took 24 lives across the three states, with 19 of those deaths coming from the state.

Fortunate for Brownsville and Haywood County, there were no deaths or major injuries reported.

This may be thought of as amazing, considering that Weather Underground’s Director of Meteorology, Dr. Jeff Masters reported that Brownsville received approximately 17.02 inches of rain over the weekend.

People were being evacuated from their homes, from 3 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Haywood County EMA Director Bob Parks said.

Parks estimated that 225 to 250 people were evacuated in Brownsville to the Haywood County Jr. High School Saturday night. It was around Sunday afternoon, that those evacuated started relying on motel rooms as well as family and friends.

The weekend’s fl ood took so many by surprise.

“Never in my life,” Parks responded when asked if he’d ever seen anything like the weekend fl ood before. “I think I read in the paper somewhere, that it was called a 500-year-fl ood.”

But even with the storm taking many by surprise, it didn’t stop many from achieving rescue efforts in Haywood County.

“My fi rst initial was to get people to a safe area,” Parks said. “The police and fi re departments and the rescue squad all jumped in and just did the best that they could. We didn’t have any deaths or major injuries.”

As far as structural damage, Parks estimated that the early estimates are at $4.5 million.

FEMA will produce the fi nal estimate, report to Governor Phil Bredesen who will then make a declaration to the President for federal aid.

Bredesen recently asked President

Barrack Obama to declare 52 counties. So far, the federal government has declared four counties: Cheatham, Davidson, Hickman and Williamson.

Although there are much more counties that need aid, Bredesen remained impress with Obama’s quick response so far.

“The federal government has moved quickly to assist Tennessee and I appreciate the quick action by President Obama to declare the fi rst of what I expect will be many counties authorized for federal assistance,” Bredesen said. “In addition to the state and local resources utilized in the initial response, I know all counties impacted by these devastating storms are anxious for assistance and access to the resources of the federal government.”

Haywood County hit by Flash Flood


City of Brownsville Accomplishments – 2010

A special Thank You to all public safety, public works, emergency management, and rescue squad

members for their incredible dedication and response to the devastation of the May 1st Floods!

Board of Mayor and Aldermen: (from left) Ward IV, Thomas Averyheart; Ward II, Vice Mayor Carolyn Flagg; Mayor Jo Matherne; Ward I, Leon King; Ward III, John Simmons

Other Significant Events:• Election and inauguration of Mayor Jo Matherne, Vice Mayor Carolyn Flagg, and Alderman Thomas Averyheart• City Department of Planning established• Brownsville awarded “Tennessee Downtowns” designation by the State Department of Economic and Community Development• Historic Zoning Commission reorganized and increased • Regional Planning Commission increased in size• Police Department awarded First Place in Tennessee, and Second Place nationwide in the Law Enforcement Challenge• Fire Department answered 543 calls, and presented 22 prevention and education programs to over 1,800 citizens• 22,455 calls countywide to Central Dispatch requiring a response• 249 Building Permits issued for new construction and repair/remodeling• Over 125 codes violations addressed to improve the overall appearance of our City• Two street projects completed – curbs/gutters and resurfacing of South Washington Avenue, and resurfacing and striping of Thomas, Key Corner, Meadow, & Briarcliff• Replacement and repair of sewer lines in south Brownsville• West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center increased attendance 200% - almost 20,000 visitors!

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Whenever most people talked about the city election for mayor, “variety” was often the choice word thrown around.

This year’s race had six candidates from very different backgrounds vying for the seat of the city’s next mayor. Last night, after months of a competitive campaign trail littered with debates, public meetings and yard signs, the city’s next mayor fi nally emerged.

Jo Matherne won the mayoral race gaining approximately 38 percent of the total votes. Anne Banks came in second while John Ashworth came in third place. Matherne expressed her

deepest thanks to her supporters after learning of her win. “I’m humbled and grateful for all of the people who supported me,” Matherne said.

Matherne will offi cially take her seat as mayor at the next city board meeting on July 13. Among some of her initial goals will be working with the Aldermen to tackle the city’s budget, as well as looking at the state of public or city services.

Although thankful for her supporters in the election, Matherne is inviting her opponents’ supporters in the hope of working together for good of Brownsville, she said.

“We need to begin the process of building those bridges and getting everyone to the table,” she said.

Based on the election results , it seems that Matherne earned a number of her votes from precincts that had a high volume of voters.

At Fire Station Number Three, out of the 638 total votes cast, Matherne earned 55.17 percent, while Banks earned 19.59 percent and Ashworth earned 15.05 percent. At the Junior High School, out of 489 votes, Matherne earned 59.30 percent, beating Banks who had 21.27 percent and John Ashworth with 15.34 percent.

Banks managed to pull to some precinct wins, with College Hill Cafeteria, out of the 17 votes cast, she managed to earn 64.71 percent and at City Hall, out of the 254 total votes cast, she managed to earn

46.06 percent of the votes, beating Ashworth with 40.16 percent of the votes, and Matherne with 9.06 percent of the votes.

There were also quite a few places where all three candidates were pretty close. At Sunny Hill out of 133 votes, Ashworth led with 32.33 percent, Matherne who had 29.32 percent and Banks who had 27.82 percent followed him.

At the Haywood County Parks and Recreation building, Banks gained 32.59 percent of the votes out of 244. Matherene who had 31.33 percent of the votes and Ashworth who had 30.70 percent closely followed her.

In other election news, there was one changes to the Alderman seat for Ward 4, left vacant by Joe Taylor. Tom Averyheart beat J.P. Moses in a close

election for the seat.Alderman Carolyn

Flagg will remain in her seat for Ward 2, beating challenger Cedric Bunch. The total number of votes this year, came out to 2,318. Early election for the for the county will kick off July 16 and end July 31. The county election day is set for Thursday, August 5. The last day to register to vote for the county election will be July 6.

Matherne wins Mayor’s post Averyheart and Flagg win Aldermen seats

Jo Matherne Carolyn Flagg Tom Averyheart


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Months after announcing the impending retirement of Haywood High School Principal Robert Mitchell, a new principal has been named.

The Haywood County School Superintendent Marlon King has named current Haywood Junior High School Principal Dorothy Bond as the one to take Mitchell’s place.

“I appreciate the opportunity to serve in the fi nest high school in West Tennessee,” Mrs. Bond said. “I am humbled by the appointment, and I am grateful to Superintendent King for the confi dence he’s placed in me. I come to Haywood High for the children of this county.”

Bond is a Carver High School graduate, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology and Secondary Education from Lane College. At the University of Memphis she earned hours in Elementary Guidance and Counseling, an elementary certifi cation endorsement from the University of Tennessee-Martin and a Master’s of Education in Educational Leadership from Trevecca Nazarine University.

She has a lengthy history with Haywood County schools that saw her work from elementary to junior high.

She taught at Anderson Grammar School

from 1973 to 1994, and at Sunny Hill School from 1995 to 1997 before being named assistant principal in 1997. She became principal of Sunny Hill in 1998.

It was only last year she was announced as principal at Haywood Junior High School.

She is married to her husband, Joe, who have a daughter.

Robert Mitchell, 63, served as Haywood High School principal for 11 years. He has been in education for approximately 40 years.

Mitchell announced his retirement shortly after his wife, Alice retired last year.

Haywood High School has approximately 1,000 people, with 950 plus of those being students.

Dorothy Bond named Haywood High School Principal

Dorothy Bond


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“Our future is not something that will just happen to us. It takes work,” said Senior Class First Vice-President Monica Austin. They were words that perhaps, couldn’t have been more fi tting for the Class of 2010, as the bright group of young men and women have worked hard to get the point of graduation. The only concern Monday night for the group of seniors was the weather. Looking back the school year, it could be understood why cautious eyes were pointed towards the sky.

Storms, ice and fl oods have interrupted homecoming, tests and nearly a prom. Even Principal Robert Mitchell, who will be retiring, kept the weather in mind while trying to move the graduation at a prompt rate. Mitchell even asked parents to keep their applause until the end, however, as parents cheered continusly into the evining, it was apparent that his words fell on deaf and excitable ears.

But the weather did hold up, as graduates excepted their diplomas and awards. It could be argued that the class of 2010 was one of Haywood County’s brightest. This year featured fi ve valedictorians who each gave a speech.

As for the awards given, there was a multitude:The following Distinguished Scholar students were the

Top Ten in the senior class: tied as Valedictorians are Fabiola Calderon, Alex Primrose, Black Correa, Audrey Pattat and Jordan Burroughs, each having maintained a 4.0 GPA during their four years in high school. Tied at second place are Lauren Perry and Nick Bostic. Next are Sabrina Saveh, Quincey Halliburton and Andrew Pearson.

Andrew Pearson received the Joe T. Naylor Award for having an ACT composite score of 30. This award is given to the boy in the senior class with the highest ACT score.

Audrey Pattat received the Ed Thompson Award for having an ACT composite score of 31. This award is given to the girl in the senior class with the highest ACT score.

Chris Rich received the Outstanding Career-Technical Scholar Award. Alex Galbraith received the DAR Good Citizenship Award. Two students maintained perfect attendance for the entire four years of high school: Violet Chavez and Kendra Jones. The Tri-Athlete Award an award where a athlete must letter in at least three different sports in his or her high school career, went to two HHS seniors, Harold Watson and Tiffany King.

HHS Senior Bianca Cole’s mother, Captain Angela Minor, is stationed in Iraq serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. In honor of Bianca, the Regimental Support Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, has sent a fl ag, which was fl own over the Garrison Command Headquarters, Camp Taji, Iraq, and over the United States Capitol. Major Delois Dailey of the HHS JROTC presented this fl ag to Bianca.

Meshara Williams is joining the United States Army, and Sgt. Latoya Mitchell presented Meshara a check representing the value of her military education. Harold Watson and Raven Hurdle, were also recipients of the Army Scholar Athlete award. The Tennessee Scholars program, a business-led initiative endorsed by the Tennessee Department of Education, the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Tennessee Business Roundtable, and many other education coalitions across the state, was given to students who must have completed a rigorous academic and technical course of study that exceeds the minimum requirements for a diploma. Additionally, they must have met other criteria including at least 40 hours of community

service. The following students who received this were: Monica Austin, Nick Bostic, Jordan Burroughs, Jarvis Bynum, Fabiola Calderon, La’Keithia Caldwell, Violet Chavez, Bianca Cole, Becca Davis, Destinee Douglas, Alex Galbraith, Quentin Halliburton, Quincey Halliburton, Raven Hurdle, Kendra Jones, Mickey Nixon, Andrew Pearson, Lauren Perry, Brittany Pickens, Alex Primrose, Sabrina Saveh, Anna Scott, Kirstie Shutes, Mitchell Turner, Ana Waller and Jonathon Watson.

Scholarships were also high in number, especially locally. The total of local scholarships given equaled to $95,350. Overall, Mitchell told the graduates, “If you keep your grades up and remain eligible to renew your college and lottery scholarships for four years, the Class of 2010 will leave here tonight with a combined total of $2,029,170 to help further their education over the next four years.” For a detailed breakdown of all the scholarships given, check the next issue of the Brownsville States Graphic.

Haywood High School Class of 2010 Says Hello to Future


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Thursday January 27, 2011 • 2010 Year In Review • The Brownsville States-Graphic -


Danny Presley is no stranger to many residents in Brownsville. Whether caught singing at Brownsville Baptist Church, or working at Southwest Electric Membership Corporation, many residents know him.

That’s why it shouldn’t have served as too much of a surprise when many congratulated Presley when he fi nally received an award he should have had decades ago: a bronze star.

Given the fact that it’s an honor, long overdue, the tsunami of community support makes sense. Of course to Presley, Brownsville has always supported him. To truly understand that, one would have to perhaps take a look at Presley’s journey from high school football player to honored Vietnam veteran.Being Drafted

Presley has lived in Brownsville for most of his life. Coming from a family of four siblings, Presley moved to the city at the age of three from Dyersburg. During the mid-60’s he was a Tomcat, playing wide receiver for the football team. He recalled it being a time when high school football was the “big deal” to happen every week.

“I mean people would really dress up for it,” Presley said. “Some of them would dress better there than for church.”

After graduation, Presley expected to become drafted into the army. Unable to go college due to fi nances, he was a single 19-year-old young man, when it fi nally happened.

Presley’s family was no stranger to military action. His father had served in World War II, while one of his brothers; Charles had gone into the Air Force Reserve during Vietnam. His other brother Barry was already in fi ghting in Vietnam and had even offered to extend his own tour to keep Presley from going.

“I wouldn’t let him do it cause he had spent a whole year over there,” Presley said. “He was at Pleiku, which was where a lot of the Tet Offensive was located; he was in the middle of all that. Up until a couple of months ago, he had never talked about it. What I went through was nothing compared to what he went through.”

Presley was drafted in February 1969.He spent two years active duty in the

military. He would only serve two and a half months in Vietnam.

They would prove to be life-changing moments for Presley.Bronze Star

Presley still remembers the dangerous search mission that earned him the Bronze Star.

“We had gone out to search this area and we come up on this little farmhouse, and the captain set down on the steps,” Presley said. “And he told us to search around the perimeter

of the house. Well, there was this hedgerow. It was about maybe, 100 feet from the house, just running along this path. And I went over searching through that hedgerow and I saw a log about eight inches around, two feet long. I thought ‘what an odd place for this log to be up in this hedge.”

While checking for traps, Presley discovered a hole by the log. After informing the captain, the two soon made their way over. The plan was that Presley would toss a grenade into the hole, while his captain would stand guard.

“Just as I got to where I could see the hole, there were a pair of hands coming up, pulling a pin on a hand grenade,” he said. “And I yell, ‘Captain, get out of here, he’s got a grenade.”

The two managed to dodge the grenade without any injury, and Presley shot their assailant, he said. He spotted another enemy soldier, who began running away. It was then, that his fellow soldiers fi red at the escapee. It’s a memory that brings a chuckle or two to Presley.“He jumped up and took off running. Well both of them put their rifl es on automatic [imitates rapid gun fi re] shooting at this guy and hit him one time in the leg, nearly empty their magazines,” Presley recalled while laughing.

For his effort of saving his commander, he would was told he would be nominated to receive a bronze star. Presley would soon forget what his commander said after another harsh incident.Wounded

Not every memory would be pleasant, nor would he come back home unscathed.

On October 7, 1969, Presley, while on another mission, was only 18 inches away from a hand grenade when it exploded. Shrapnel hit nearly everywhere in his body, especially his legs. The palm of his right hand was completely gone.

“My hands were really messed up,” he said. “ I got it all over. I had 33 holes that needed to be sewed up and a couple of hundred that

didn’t. Being that close to it was the only thing that saved me. It didn’t have time to spread enough.”

“There’s a hole through my dog tags, he continued. “They had a plastic cover. When the grenade hit, I had some shrapnel lodged in my breastbone. The dog tags were the only thing that saved me.”

Presley would spend eight months in hospitals—from Japan to Millington, Tenn.—recovering. Some were worried that he wouldn’t make it.

“The people of Brownsville were so concerned, they were trying to get the funds together to send my momma and daddy to Japan cause they didn’t think I was going to make it,” he said. But I was sent back to the U.S. before they were able to get there.”

While healing, Presley was surprised by the huge amount of support he received from Brownsville.

“I had 60 cards and letters from people in Brownsville when my mail caught up with me,” he said. Both hands were messed up, so I couldn’t open them up. I had to get one of the nurses to come and help.”

“I knew people knew me and knew my family, but I had no idea until I received all those letters, how many people knew where I was what I was doing and what was going on and even cared about me even though I wasn’t playing football anymore,” he continued. “It was quite unique to get all those cards and letters. I knew most of them but some of them were from people I didn’t even know cared enough to write.”

Anyone with Presley’s serious injuries would have found it diffi cult not become depressed. Fortunately Presley always had the love and support of his family to help him whenever he was down.

“I was sitting at the dinner table with my parents, feeling really down on myself,” he said. “I was out of the army but I still couldn’t do a lot of things physically that I wanted to do. I was depressed and I said something about how ugly I am with all these scars on. And daddy said ‘I love everyone of them because they’re here.’ It really hit me when he said that. I never said another thing about it.”Awarded

Presley eventually fi nished his time in the military. He became and Engineering Assistant and Draftsman as Southwest, where he’s been working for 38 years. Presley wasn’t awarded until this year.

In 2009, his uncle had signed him for a Vietnam Veteran’s magazine. Stemming from an article on video footage of fi rebases, he hit Google. Further curiosity led him to googling his own name.

It paid off, as Presley was soon in talks with

the military powers that be, over his bronze star.

It became clear, that Presley would no doubt become awarded. The method however, was a complete shock.

“I’m sitting at home by myself at lunch. I’m about to take a nap, when I get this knock on the door and it’s the mailman and he’s got this big package I have to sign for. And I sign for it, open it up and there’s my medal. So I’m sitting there by myself, I’ve got no one to tell,” he said with a laugh.

Presley recalled that family and friends weren’t exactly happy to how he received the star. But to Presley, to have it presented by his brother in church was perfect.

“We had 44 members of my family sitting there and Senator Delores Gresham came too,” he said. That meant a lot to me that she would come.

It meant more to me to get it that way, then if I had gotten it in Vietnam by myself. It was a special occasion for them. They got to witness and see it.”

A soldier fi nally awarded; Presley receives long deserved Bronze Star

Danny Presley was fi nally awarded a Bronze Star Medal for his service in Vietnam.

A young Danny Presley taking a moment to rest in Vietnam.

Danny Presley stands with a Vietnamese solider, one of some in the south who would choose to help American soldiers.


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They did it.Representing Haywood County

and the entire state of Tennessee the hometown Special Olympics basketball team shot for gold, and won. Team Tennessee won the men’s Division I gold medal at the Special Olympics National Games held in Lincoln, Neb. last week. “I had no doubt in my mind we could win,” said mentor and Coach Chrystel Roach. “We played as a team and won.” They prepped for the games for months, and boarded a plane for Nebraska not knowing what to expect or how they would compete.

Team Tennessee defeated Minnesota and Delaware and went on again to face Minnesota again in the championship round, rising above their competition while playing as a team. “We got nervous the last round, Minnesota definitely gave us a run for our money,” Coach Roach said. “I’m not just proud of our team Tennessee, I’m proud of all the athletes that participated in the national games. Every one of them has something important to offer.”

But the Haywood boys weren’t just playing for them, they had someone else

on their minds when they took to the hardwood. A boy named, Jake, whom they have never met, yet inspired the team to do their best. “A lady messaged me on facebook the week we were playing and wished us good luck,” explained Roach.

The message went on to reveal her son, Jake, had cerebral palsy, ‘I wish my son could do what you guys are doing, just know that someone from Arkansas is behind you guys.’ Team Tennessee dedicated their last game to Jake. “We would huddle up and yell, ‘team Tennessee, who you playing for…Jake’!”

Roach said winning the gold medal wasn’t the only glorification coming from the win, but it was the overall experience. “This whole experience has been a motivational tool for the boys, makes them confident in themselves, that they can achieve anything they work hard at,” Roach continued. “They just needed someone to believe in them, and open a door, so they could just walk on through it, and they did.” Members of the team include: Quenta Reed, Cordarious Baltimore, Mark Michael, Terrion Cooper, Julius Hughes, Floyd Boyd, Kevin Jones, Shaquille Carter, and Coaches Chrystel Roach Clinton Smith, Roger Westbrook.

Haywood team wins GoldBy Calvin CarterStaff Writer

2010 for Brownsville has brought many changes. Some of those changes have come in the form of new beginnings. While others, such as Tuesday’s retirement party held for City Mayor Webb Banks and Aldermen Vice Mayor Joe Taylor, came in the form of endings.

Banks and Taylor were honored and celebrated for their efforts of serving the public.

“It’s been a wonderful 16 years,” Banks said. I think it shows that when everyone works together—you know the Aldermen and I can’t do it alone—that we accomplish so much.”

“I’m still feeling great, I’m just grateful to the citizens of Brownsville,” Taylor said. “I never thought that I would serve for 28 years. But the citizens wanted me to continue.”

Both Banks and Taylor admitted that their decision to retire felt right, even if they are going to miss serving the people through city government.

“I’m really going to miss it,” Banks said. “But I feel like it’s the right time to quit. I think it’s the right time to pass the torch.”

“I’m going to miss it somewhat, but I feel that the number of years spent with the

board, it’s time for me to have some free time with myself and my family,” Taylor said.

Family, friends and county and city employees honored both Banks and Taylor.

Both received a special plaque from the Board of Alderman and city employees. And State House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh recognized Banks on behalf of the state.

“IF only everyone was as fortunate as I’ve been to serve with mayor Banks,” Naifeh said. “We’ve worked together on many projects.”

Brownsville Director Office of Community Development, Anne Banks, dubbed the retirement as the “end of the Banks era.” She worked with Banks during his entire term after running against him for the mayor seat. But she commented that working together worked because of their respect for each other.

“We had mutual respect for each other,” Banks said. There wasn’t one time where he stopped me from doing what I wanted to do in this community.”

Anne will also be stepping down, as she is retiring officially on July 9, she said.

While retirement is in the cards for Taylor and Banks, doing absolutely nothing isn’t. Banks said that he is currently looking at various jobs offers, such as a city consultant. Taylor will still serve on the Brownsville Energy Authority Utility Board.

Retirement party held for Banks and Taylor

Taylor and Banks.


Despite last week’s heat wave, the polls remained fl owing in some areas of people (courthouse), while others (Haywood Junior High School) retained a few “dry points” throughout the day.

Haywood County’s election, saw perhaps few upsets for those running for reelection. Still the election did contain a few surprises.

Haywood County mayor Franklin Smith will keep his seat, gaining approximately 71 percent of the votes over Freddy O. Smith with 3,293. In the Haywood County Sheriff’s race, challenger Jason Singleton lost to Sheriff Melvin Bond Jr., who gained approximately 78 percent of the votes, with 3,628.

Haywood County Commissioner of 2nd District, Position 2, Richard Jameson beat challenger Felecia P. Walker in a close race. Jameson earned approximately 55 percent over Walker.

James Teddy Waldrop beat Robert Christopher Call with approximately 62 percent for County Commission Fourth District Position 1 seat.

For County Commission Seventh District, Position 1 District, Larry G. Stanley beat Albert E. Boyd with approximately 55 percent; Bob C. Hooper beat James Morgan with approximately 52 percent for County Commission Seventh District, Position 2; Jeffery Richmond beat Ronald Woods for County Commission Eight District, Position 1 with over 51 percent; Marjorie Vaulx beat Robert Campbell for Position 2 of the Eight District with over 53 percent; and Samuel T. Mathes Jr. beat Tucker

Johnson with 87 percent of the votes for County Commission seat Ninth District Position 1.

Moving beyond County Commission seats, Sonya Castellaw won the position of County Clerk against Shalanaza M. Hawkins with 70 percent of the votes; Steve Smith beat Broderick Pearson with 65 percent of the votes for Register of Deeds; James Boyd won against Barney Garrett to become road commissioner for the Eighth and Ninth Districts.

In the race for Constable of the Fourth District, Joe Ing won with approximately 70 percent of the votes against Luke Warren; while Ed Ellington won against Mike Walker with approximately 63 percent of the votes for Constable of the Seventh District.

Moving on to the state level, it seemed that early voting caught considerably more than the past few elections.

The state reported that this year’s primary election

managed to pull a new record for early voting.

This year, 543,296 voters made their decision through early voting as opposed to August 2008’s number of 209,474.

In the race for Governor, Mike McWherter (D) who earned 284,200 votes in the state will run against Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam (R), who gained 341,229 votes in the August primary.

Jim Hardin will run against Speaker of the House Jimmy Naifeh for the Tennessee House of Representatives 81st District.

And in the race for U.S. House of Representatives 8th Congressional District, Roy Herron (D) who received 27,132 votes will run against Stephen Fincher (R) who received 35,016 votes.

Charles W. Lee Jr. beat Phil S. Dedrick for State Executive Committeeman 26th Senatorial District (Republican). Shirley Curry beat both Ashley

Dennis and Teresa D. Martin for State Executive C o m m i t t e e w o m a n 26th Senatorial District (Republican) and Diane Davis won against Meryl Rice State Executive Committeeman 26th Senatorial District (Democratic).

The Tennessee General Election will take place Tuesday November 2.

County mayor and sheriff win re-election bids; State hits new early voting record

Two Brownsville women were involved in a fi ght last weekend that resulted in the death of one.

The incident took place at the Volunteer Lounge on Mercer Road, where authorities were called in to investigate an argument involving several women around 3 a.m. Sunday, authorities said.

Latoya Drake, 26, died after she was stabbed once in the abdomen with a knife by a Lekeshia Musgrave, 24, during the argument. Drake died by bleeding to death from the wound.

Although authorities investigated several people, no one besides Musgrave was arrested and charged.

Musgrave was arrested shortly after the incident that Sunday morning.

She was arraigned Monday afternoon in Haywood County General Sessions Court.

Musgrave has been charged with fi rst-degree murder.

Woman stabbed in nightclub murder

Latoya Drake

Mayor Franklin Smith Sheriff Melvin Bond


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Mayor Franklin Smith may have said it best Monday when he exclaimed, “There’s a lot of courage in this courtroom today,” as he followed up with a “and now the honeymoon’s over.”

Haywood County’s elected offi cials took their offi cial oath of offi ce, issued by Judge Clayburn Peeples, at 11 a.m. Monday at the courthouse.

“This is evidence that the democratic process of electing offi cials still works in this great nations of ours,” Smith added. “And this makes your duties offi cial.”

Among a packed room with friends and peers alike, the recently elected county offi cials held their heads high as they raised their right hand taking the coveted oath and signing their name to four years of honorable service to their community.

Incumbents Franklin Smith (county mayor), Melvin Bond (sheriff), Sonny Howse (county trustee), and Steve Smith (register of deeds) return to their ranks respectively as femmes Sonya Castellaw (county clerk) and Mary Bond Lonon (circuit court clerk) were ushered in as the new elects in August’s county-wide

election.“It was just under 100 years ago the

legislative law fi rst authorized a woman could be hired as a deputy clerk by county and here today we have elected two full-time women to serve,” said Judge Peeples speaking of Lonon and Castellaw.

County Commissioners taking the oath included (in order of districts they serve): Kathy Chapman, Janice King, Allen King, Richard Jameson, Robert T. Green, Charles R. Willis, James Teddy Waldrop, Jerry L. Smith, Wally Eubanks, John P. Gorman Jr., Chris Lea, Becky Booth, Larry Stanley, Bob Hooper, Jeffery Richmond, Marjorie Vaulx, Samuel T. Mathes Jr., Leonard Jones Jr., Robert Thornton, and Joe Stephens.

Elected Road Commissioners for this election term are: Willie Ross (3rd and 7th) and James H. Boyd (8th and 9th). Constables serving the county include: Claude Gibbs (1st), Joe Ing (3rd), Lynn Cates (4th), Ed Cleek (5th), Roger Byrd (6th), Ed Ellington (7th), Daniel Groh (9th), George Floyd (10th). School Board members taking the oath were Pearlie Hess, Robbie Jarrett-King and Harold Garrett.

Offi cials take oath of offi ce

Haywood County’s full-time elected offi cials taking offi ce this term include: Mary Bond Lonon, circuit court clerk; Melvin Bond, sheriff; Franklin Smith, mayor; Sonya Castellaw, county clerk; Sonny Howse, county trustee; and Steve Smith, register of deeds.

If the Brownsville Haywood County Chamber of Commerce seemed a little bit busier last Friday, it was because of a certain form that could have potentially allowed liquor stores to open up in Brownsville.

Forms were fi lled with signatures,

requesting an opportunity for residents to vote this upcoming November on whether to allow package liquor stores within the city limits.

Petitioners had until 4:30 p.m. last Friday to collect 590 signatures, in order for the option to hit the ballot in

No liquor store for Haywood CountyDocket fell short by 56 names

November.The committee however, got double

the amount of signatures by the end of the Friday afternoon, 1,484 in fact, 177 pages full of signatures.

The commission started receiving signatures actually back in April, Haywood County Election Commission Administrator of Elections Andrea Smothers said. Periodically, they would receive a few more pages of signatures throughout the summer. They received the last 30 pages last Friday, spending half of their Tuesday checking the signatures.

Unfortunately for those supporting the form, the committee was only able to verify 534 signatures, falling short of their goal by 56.

Those that signed had to be a Brownsville resident, registered voters, have the same address on their voter card as listed on the petition, as well as the same signatures on their voter cards.

There will not be another opportunity for the option to reach the ballot until 2012. Residents will have an opportunity

to either put it on the ballot for the city June 2012 election or the November 2012 election.

This isn’t the fi rst time Brownsville or Haywood County has had a major debate on liquor.

In fact, it was only recent that the city started allowing the sale of beer.

Brownsville offi cially stopped becoming a completely dry city in June 2008, when the City Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted to allow for beer to be sold in “major stores in the city limit.”

Voted on twice by the board, the motion was deadlocked during each vote, 2-2 with the Aldermen during that period.

Aldermen Carolyn Flagg and Joe Taylor voted for and Aldermen Allen King and John Simmons voted against it. Then city mayor, Webb Banks had to break the tie, voting for the rule, despite a strong public resistance.

The motion established certain restrictions for stores selling beer, including that the store have an inventory wholesale of $10,000 and yearly retail sales of $300,000.

- The Brownsville States-Graphic • 2010 Year In Review • Thursday January 27, 2011

It was perhaps a low turnout for Haywood County for the mid-term elections. There were approximately 5,000 plus people that voted, with half choosing the early voting option.

Delving into local election, Allan Sterbinsky won another term as mayor while running unopposed.

Emma Delk, Frank Fawcett, Ruffi e Jones and A.D. Miller won their seats for Stanton Town Aldermen.

Despite whom Haywood County may have wanted for Governor, the rest of the state had the fi nal say.

In Haywood County, Mike McWherter (D) beat Bill Haslam (R) 52.96 percent (2,853) votes over 45.7 percent (2,462).

As said before, with the state it was a different story.

Haslam, who has even received endorsement from Haywood County Mayor Franklin Smith, won with 65 percent of the state votes (1,040,688), which is nearly double what McWherter received with 529,834 or 33.1 percent.

Frog Stomp native and farmer’s favorite Stephen Fincher (R) lost to Roy Herron (D) here in Haywood County for the United States House of Representatives 8th Congressional District.

In Haywood County, Herron received 51.16 percent (2,708) of the votes, while Fincher received 47.69 percent (2,524). Statewide however, Fincher won with 59 percent compared to Herron’s 38.8 percent.

But Haywood didn’t get all of its wishes denied.

Jimmy Naifeh (D) won in Haywood County with a whooping 60.54 percent (3,212) over Jim Hardin (R) who received 39.46 percent (2,094). State wide, the margin was a bit narrower.

Naifeh edged out a victory with 51 percent (7,730) to Hardin’s 49 percent (7,293).

Haywood County voted 94.13 percent to yes on the Constitutional Amendment to Hunt and Fish. Statewide, the result wasn’t that different, with 89.7 percent voting for yes.

Haslam elected Governor

Fincher and Naifeh garner

wins

Last year’s Hatchie Fall Festival was quite the wonderful spectacle hit with only one major complaint: the weather.

Attendees to last year’s event dealt with chilly low winds, temperatures that ranged from the mid 40’s to the lower 50s all day and a sun that hid behind the clouds more as the day went on.

So what about this year’s?

Well if you were one of the few who didn’t get to go to this year’s Seventh Annual Hatchie Fall Festival, you missed out on clear blue skies and warmer weather compared to last year.

Jackets were still common by the time Opening Ceremonies— it took place at 10 a.m.—kicked off with words from Brownsville Mayor Jo Matherne,

Haywood County Mayor Franklin Smith, Brownsville/Haywood County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Joe Ing, Hatchie Fall Festival Chairperson Sonia Outlaw-Clark, and Speaker of the House Jimmy Naifeh (D).

Still, another hour passed, and one suddenly could have been wearing shorts for most of the day.

The festival’s history starts in 2003, which was then known as the Brownsville Fall Fest. It was renamed the following year to its current title, in the hopes of serving as a nod to the Hatchie River and the Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge.

This year’s festival had approximately 8,000 people attend, the largest crowd ever drawn. Vendors this year actually ran out of food and had to travel back and forth to refi ll.

Economically, that may not have been a bad thing. It further served as a testament to just how large a crowd attended.

From games, contests, tractor pulls, and wrestling, there was plenty to do last Saturday.

And the entertainment was constant from morning to night, where Alex Harvey and The Houserockers closed out the festival.

For more picture on the Hatchie Fall Festival, look at pages C1-C3 of the States-Graphic.

Fall Fest attracts largest crowd

Rock ‘N Roll history was made this weekend as the local musical group the “Houserockers” reunited together at the Hatchie Fall Fest as they accompanied Alex Harvey. The “Houserockers” have not played together in nearly 50 years. Pictured are: Joe Sills, J. D. Clinton, Herbert Adams, and Jeff Hooper.

Photos by Julie Pickard

For 42 years, people received help from City Clerk Jerry Taylor, whether it was providing answers to questions for those that attended the city board meetings, or simply providing a solution for any resident with a city-related problem.

However, it was during Taylor’s surprise retirement party last Thursday October 28 in city hall, that an end of an era had come to Brownsville.

Taylor has often been depicted as the “behind the scenes guy,” a role he has proudly played during his many years as City Clerk.

“I’m not the front man. I’m the back man,” Taylor said. “I always wanted to make sure everything was working back here.”

Despite his low-key approach to the limelight, it would be hard to argue that

Taylor’s straightforward nature, and willingness to help others hadn’t made him an essential ingredient to the city government recipe.

The outpour of co-workers, city and county leaders and friends present at his retirement party would support that notion.

“Jerry, I congratulate you. You have made it,” B r o w n s v i l l e / H a y w o o d County Chamber of Commerce Retail Development Director Richard Carraway said, echoing the similar sentiments said by many others that afternoon.

Taylor began his career not behind the desk but on the streets picking up brush in 1964. While working for the Brownsville Utility Department, Taylor would also work on acquiring his degree in Accounting from the

Tennessee Business College through the nights.

In 1972, Taylor transferred into working for the city, beginning his long career as city clerk.

Taylor has enjoyed many aspects of the job, from the camaraderie of his fellow co-workers to making positive

changes to the city.However, what Taylor has

enjoyed most about his job is the opportunity to help people.

“I’ve really enjoyed working with the citizens. They’ve been really kind to me,” Taylor said. “And I just

Behind the Scenes; Brownsville City Clerk Jerry Taylor retires

Brownsville City Clerk Jerry Taylor received a special plaque for his years of service to Brownsville.

Continued on Page 23

Thursda, January 27, 2011 • 2010 Year In Review • The Brownsville States-Graphic -

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The same traditions of service that were offered to past generations are the same

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Caring, compassion, respect……….yesterday, today, tomorrow….

Funeral HomesBROWNSVILLE-BELLS

A tradition built on respect, compassion and personal service.


At 1771 Coburn Road, there sits the headquarters of ARK R.A.I.N. Wildlife Sanctuary. Part of the area serves as a personal home for ARK co-founders Tim and Toni Davies.

Weeks ago, any passerby would have seen a one-story, three bedroom home, equipped with a laundry room, kitchen

and, thanks to the surprise May fl oods, a freshly remolded fl oor.

You would also fi nd various antiques, knickknacks, pictures and other memories.

Next to the home there was also an area that housed kinkajous, birds, tortoises, a bush baby monkey, dogs, cats and various other species, many that may have been endangered.

Local wildlife sanctuary works to recover from fi re

Continued on Page 24

-enjoy helping people. It’s just a little thing about me. I love to help people.”

Taylor has always remained adamant about helping his fellow city employees, especially those in the sanitation department.

“That’s my kind of people. If they got a problem, I got a problem,” he said. “If they’re in trouble, I’m going to do what I can to help.”

Taylor has witnessed many changes for Brownsville, while serving as City Clerk, especially the manner in which city board meetings are handled.

Considered a straight shooter when it comes to information, Taylor has welcomed how easier it’s become to better inform the public.

“Misinformed people are where you get your problems,” he said. “Informed people understand and tell you whether they like it or don’t like it. But misinformed people, that causes chaos.”

“We have nothing to hide,” Taylor continued. “The more information available to the public…it may not be exactly what you want but at

least you know what’s going on.”Taylor plans to keep busy with

his farm, church work and do some consulting.

And what if the city ever needs his help again?

“If they call me, I’ll still come back and help,” he said.

With an immense love for the job, some may wonder why Taylor is choosing to leave at all.

“Well, I been here long enough to where it’s time to move on,” he said. “It’s time for the new generation.”

Although things are changing, Taylor still appears open to the new generation coming into the city and making changes.

“As far as I’m concerned, Webb Banks was the best mayor we ever had,” he said. “He had his ideas, and we did a lot of good stuff while he was here. But this mayor will have other ideas just like you and I have different ideas. He was mayor for 16 years. He was a wonderful mayor. He was a wonderful person and the easiest person to get along with. But it’s just time for a new person to come in. New people bring new ideas.”


-Yet in the early morning hours of Nov. 19, that all changed as a result of a horrendous fi re that consumed all of the home and part of the sanctuary area.

The fi re also claimed the lives of approximately 50 plus animals, while injuring countless others.

Today, a visit to the ARK R.A.I.N. Wildlife Sanctuary will present the scorched remains of the Davies’ home, personal facilities, ARK’s offi ces, indoor small animal facility, along with several outside exhibits, all of the animal supplies and animal feed just to name a few.

Still, ARK R.A.I.N. is standing, although not nearly as strong as

it was a month ago.For those that don’t

know, ARK is a state and federally licensed non-profi t, 501-c-3 public charity that protects, nurses and rehabilitates many different animals. The organization has been in Haywood County for 14 years.

The organization has prided itself on strictly following state and federal regulations, which would probably negate many wild rumors that have spread on the community.

“This lion has never been outside his outdoor exhibit in almost 14 years,” Tony Snipes, an ARK R.A.I.N board member, said while shooting down a rumor that the facility’s big cats were

on the loose during the fi re. “It’s not possible for him to get out. Like I said, we’re federally and state licensed and regulated. They come out regularly to inspect us. It’s not possible for him to be.”

The Davies are living out of a camper loaned to the organization. With the cold winter season, it’s not much considering that it’s roof is adorned with tarp, insulation is absent and warmth comes in the form of little space heaters, Snipes said.

There is no working water or a bathroom.

Although local fi refi ghters quickly responded to the call when the fi re broke out, it spread too fast to salvage anything.

The investigation into the cause of the fi re has moved on to the state level.

“It’s still under i n v e s t i g a t i o n , offi cially but I do believe it was arson based on where the fi re began and the way it spread,” Snipes said.

Authorities have said so far that the fi re may have burned from the top and spread down.

In the meantime, the organization is focusing it efforts towards rebuilding.

To put it frankly, ARK is need of help. They’ve already received a bit of help outside of the country.

“We’ve received donations from the U.K., Switzerland,

Australia, just all over the world,” Snipes said.

Still, it’s not enough. The $10,000 plus received so far pales in comparison to the $200,000 in damages. The insurance, which hasn’t paid since the matter is still under investigation, will also barely cover the price. The helpful hands of Haywood County would greatly benefi t the organization, Snipes said.

“If they pay, it’s barely enough to cover enough,” Snipes said about the insurance. “So we have nothing to rebuild. We are at the mercy of the public.”

Residents can make tax-deductible monetary donations, building materials,

tools, and gift cards to Walmart or Lowe’s or experienced c a r p e n t e r s , electricians and plumbers can donate their services.

The organization is also looking for animal supplies with big or jumbo animal carriers on the top of that list, blankets, animal food, and big animal water bottles to name a few items.

The organization is also seeking any individuals or businesses that would like to help out by starting some type of fundraiser.

For more information on how to help, you can visit ARK R.A.I.N. on their Facebook page, go to www.arkrain.org or call 731-780-3678.

2010 Year In Review

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